SHOW BITS: A kiss that kept on going

The Associated Press

Posted:
08/25/2014 05:32:13 PM MDT

Updated:
08/25/2014 10:45:19 PM MDT

Click photo to enlarge

Bryan Cranston kisses Julia Louis-Dreyfus, center front, as she accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her work on ?Veep? at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Show Bits brings you the 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.

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CRANSTON, LOUIS-DREYFUS KISS, MAKE UP

On her way to the Emmy Awards stage, winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus got waylaid by a pair of lips belonging to Bryan Cranston.

They shared a prolonged kiss as the audience applauded Louis-Dreyfus' win as lead actress in a comedy series. She had to be led away from the "Breaking Bad" star by show host Seth Meyers.

"He went for it and I appreciate it," a grinning Louis-Dreyfus said backstage.

Stephen Colbert poses with the award for Outstanding Variety Series in the press room at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

She and Cranston had presented an award earlier in the evening, when she pretended she didn't remember his appearance on "Seinfeld," during which their characters dated and kissed.

Their Emmy smooch was part of that running gag, and Louis-Dreyfus explained that their respective spouses were OK with it.

"It's not a question of why, but more a question of why not?" a cagey Cranston said backstage after winning for lead actor in a drama series.

Informed that their moment of passion was likely to go viral, he joked, "You're saying that she has a virus that I wasn't aware of?"

— Beth Harris: www.twitter.com/bethharrisap

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ROTATING SOFIA: WHAT DID YOU THINK?

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During the moment viewers usually make a dash for the refrigerator, the Emmy Awards tried to keep them in front of their screens.

As TV academy president Maury McIntyre was touting the organization's community works and educational efforts, he led Sofia Vergara to a platform and turned on a switch that had the "Modern Family" actress rotating as he spoke.

A smiling Vergara vamped and preened in her white gown as McIntyre rattled on.

"It's an honor just to win. It really is." — Producer Danny Zuker of winning comedy series "Modern Family."

— Sandy Cohen: www.twitter.com/ APSandy

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REMEMBERING ROBIN

Cradling her Emmy Award backstage, Kathy Bates recalled a night years ago when she won an award and wanted to call her mother with the news.

It was before cellphones and she needed a quarter for the backstage pay phone.

Robin Williams dug out a coin and urged her to make the call.

"I never forgot that kindness," she said Monday after winning supporting actress in a miniseries or movie for "American Horror Story: Coven."

Bates also recalled the night Williams, who died earlier this month, was there when she lost.

It was 1999 and Bates, nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress, lost to Judi Dench. Williams handed out the award that year.

"He said, 'I really wish I could've had your name in the envelope. Are you OK? I know how hard it is to lose,'" she said. "This is a special night for that reason."

— Beth Harris: www.twitter.com/bethharrisap

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QUICKQUOTE: JULIANNA MARGULIES

"Oh yes, this is much heavier than the other one." — Julianna Margulies, comparing the real Emmy she got backstage to the prop she was handed on camera when she accepted her award for best actress in a drama series.

— Sandy Cohen: www.twitter.com/ APSandy

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QUICKQUOTE: STEPHEN COLBERT

"I think I may just change my name to the Col-borg. 'I am the Col-borg. Resistance is futile.'" — Comedian Stephen Colbert, whose show won for best variety series, commenting on singer Gwen Stefani mangling his name when announcing his win.

— Anthony McCartney: www.twitter.com/mccartneyAP

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SARAH SILVERMAN'S WINNER'S REMORSE

Right when she got to the trophy table to collect her Emmy, Sarah Silverman realized she had forgotten to thank some very important people.

"Oh! I didn't thank my parents!" she said, a wave of guilt spreading across her face.

Told she could mention them on the backstage "Thank You Cam," Silverman said she'd already breezed past it.

"The 'Thank You Cam' was right away and I was like, 'I thanked everyone.'"

She says she'll make up for the faux pas by giving her folks the Emmy.

"It's just going to go in my very embarrassed dad's living room," she said.

— Sandy Cohen: www.twitter.com/ APSandy

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KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

Just as Jessica Lange came backstage to claim her Emmy for lead actress in a miniseries for "American Horror Story: Coven," series creator Ryan Murphy took the Nokia Theatre stage to accept an award for his television movie, "The Normal Heart."

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